NewsMatch Alert: Press Release Summary | 7 December
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Welcome to Medianet’s daily media alert featuring a curated list of today's most newsworthy press releases handpicked by our editorial team.
Today's highlights
World-first Australian trial offers new hope for type 1 diabetes
Researchers at St Vincent’s Institute of Medical Research (SVI) in Melbourne have shown that a commonly prescribed rheumatoid arthritis drug can stop the progression of type 1 diabetes.?The world-first human trial, published today in the New England Journal of Medicine and led by SVI’s Professor Thomas Kay, showed that a drug called baricitinib can safely and effectively preserve the body’s own insulin production and suppress the progression of type 1 diabetes in people who initiated treatment within 100 days of diagnosis.????
Australian Food Story: Report Released
The Australian Parliament’s Agriculture Committee has released its report for its inquiry into food security in Australia. The inquiry examined ways to strengthen and safeguard Australia’s food security, focussing on production, supply chains and key inputs, as well as climate change, biosecurity and food insecurity. Committee Chair, Meryl Swanson MP said: ‘Despite Australia being one of the most food secure countries in the world, recent developments both at home and abroad have shown that food security presents real and growing challenges to the nation.'
Mid year economic update must confront growing housing and homelessness crisis
The Federal Government must address the housing and homelessness crisis in its mid-year economic outlook as a new analysis from Homelessness Australia reveals a 6.2% increase in demand for already overwhelmed services from those impacted, amid declining funding. “Homelessness services are at a snapping point,” said Kate Colvin , chief executive of Homelessness Australia. “We were already stretched but now we are overwhelmed."
Government delivers tradies a Christmas blow
Attributable to Master Builders Australia CEO Denita Wawn : In what is starting to feel like Groundhog Day for bad Government process, the Government with the support of some crossbench Senators have decided to ram through aspects of its damaging IR ‘Closing Loopholes’ Bill. Any remaining trust between the business community and the Albanese Government has today been eroded. The unions are today celebrating their Christmas gift while tradies and Australians who are grappling with a cost of living and housing crisis will foot the bill. The Albanese Government has failed to understand how building and construction work is performed.
Same Job Same Pay best Christmas present for labour hire workers
Thousands of labour hire mineworkers across Australia will be celebrating today after key elements of the Closing Loopholes Bill won the support of the Federal Parliament today, including Same Job Same Pay measures to end labour hire exploitation.?Mining and Energy Union General Secretary Grahame Kelly thanked Senators for supporting the common sense measure to prevent multinational using labour hire to drive down wages.
NSW Police Special Constables consider Christmas break industrial action
NSW Police Special Constables, who protect critical infrastructure like police installations and Parliament House, are considering industrial action on the eve of Christmas after two years of pay discussions. The NSW Police Special Constables who protect ministers, politicians and police are paid as low as $59,000 a year, over $20,000 less than a probationary police officer, and $10,000 less than a prison officer or sheriff.
PHAA applauds passing of historic Tobacco Bill
The Public Health Association of Australia (PHAA) has congratulated the Australian Parliament on today passing the Public Health (Tobacco and Other Products) Bill 2023.?The Bill consolidates all of Australia’s current tobacco measures into a single Act and adds a suite of new protection measures including tackling digital advertising.
Massage sector welcomes second round consultation on sex work decriminalisation in QLD
Massage & Myotherapy Australia has welcomed the second-round consultation on sex work decriminalisation in Queensland, as a responsible approach to implementing these reforms. "While we welcomed the recent findings of the Queensland Law Reform Commission (QLRC), they seem to have missed the fact that sex work disguised and advertised as massage has grievous consequences for legitimate massage therapists and migrant women," says Ann Davey , CEO Massage & Myotherapy Australia.
Three key tests for Australia as Bowen arrives on the global climate stage
As Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen touches down in Dubai for the United Nations Climate Conference (COP28) the Climate Council says firm commitments and leadership are needed from the Albanese Government.?Senior Researcher at the Climate Council, Dr. Wesley Morgan said: “The measure of Australia’s success on the international stage will be its support for an orderly and just phase out of coal, oil and gas.”
Labor: Protect community rights, our precious oceans and marine life
As organisations whose collective purpose is to ensure a healthy environment and a stable climate, we are deeply concerned by the oil and gas industry’s aggressive lobbying campaign to water down the environmental regulations that protect Australia’s oceans. Woodside, Santos and Australian Energy Producers (formerly known as APPEA) are pushing to make it easier to drill for fossil fuels and seismic blast in our waters.?
Leading scientist says the carp herpes virus is needed
The carp herpes virus should be released into Australia’s freshwater rivers to save our native fish populations and their habitats. The bold move is supported by Dr Martin Mallen-Cooper, one of Australia’s most-respected river ecologists. Following decades of studying Australia’s freshwater ecosystems, Dr Mallen-Cooper believes the science and research is strong enough to confidently release the virus. Martin believes that a release will temporarily reduce carp numbers and provide a critical window for native fish to establish a more substantial presence.?
Are our accessible bathrooms inaccessible to people in wheelchairs?
A new study has found that the majority of washbasins in accessible bathrooms are not usable for some wheelchair users. While accessible bathrooms are designed to enable independent, safe and comfortable use for people living with disability, the Australian Standard basin heights are prohibitive for many wheelchair users, says Dr Konstantina Vasilakopoulou from UNSW.
NDIS Review endorses ASU push for portable leave, training
The NDIS Review has backed the Australian Services Union’s longstanding call for the introduction of portable leave and training schemes for disability support workers.?In a bid to fix workforce attraction and retention, the Review says the federal government should work with state and territory governments, unions, workers and participants to “urgently” design and trial a portable training scheme, as well as a portable sick and carer’s leave scheme.?
Monash expert: NDIS Independent Review
The Independent Review into the National Disability Insurance Scheme report has been released. Associate Professor Libby Callaway, Occupational Therapy Independent Living Stream Lead: Rehabilitation, Ageing and Independent Living (RAIL) Research Centre Research Affiliate: Monash University National Centre for Healthy Ageing, Voluntary President of the Australian Rehabilitation and Assistive Technology Association (ARATA) is available to comment.
Give the gift of life this festive season
With Christmas fast approaching, you can give a gift that is truly special by buying the 26th edition of the Australian Women’s Health Diary. That is because every diary sold funds research to identify new treatments and prevention strategies- research that could one day save your life or the life of someone you love. Deaths from breast cancer have fallen 30% over the past 20 years which is largely due to new treatments like Herceptin, Exemestane, Letrozole and Tamoxifen identified through the Breast Cancer Trials research program.
Pack your basket: Australia’s Top 25 Picnic Spots Unveiled
FOOD BOX MATE
In a nation boasting over 30,000 enchanting picnic locations, Food Box Mate has curated a list of Australia's top 25 picnic spots based on an in-depth analysis of over 12,500 crowd-sourced reviews from the past two years. The research has delved beyond the most obvious picnic locations, revealing hidden gems and cherished spots that Australians love to enjoy.
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